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I started DJing at 17 because I was so young-looking and it was the only way I could get into clubs.

My hairstyle became famous, but it's not as if I landed in New York from New Jersey and thought, 'I know, I'll get a trademark haircut and become a DJ!' One night I was out partying with the fashion designer Benjamin Cho. It was three in the morning and I decided I wanted an asymmetric bob, so he grabbed some scissors.

I am relatively short at 5ft 6in, so I avoid long skirts. I like them practically up round my waist; the shorter, the better. I dress to suit the event. Last night I played at a Sotheby's cocktail party and wore a beautiful, feathered minidress by Zac Posen. Today I'm wearing Kenzo. I love the intricate beading; it weighs a ton. I love heels by Nicholas Kirkwood. His shoes are always tall and fierce, perfect for fashion parties, although the shoes that have seen me through the craziest parties are by Costume National. I have had them reheeled so many times.

I have a really good relationship with Karl Lagerfeld. We have a mutual love of Diet Coke. My most treasured possessions are some Chanel 'gun' shoes he gave me. I was seriously worried that they would get confiscated when I took them on the plane. He also gave me some 'light-bulb' shoes that light up when you walk. I have built a special shelf in my house for them.

Girls blog about what I wear. It's really flattering but I never read what they write - it would send me crazy. I did see some people dressed up as me on Hallowe'en, though. That was pretty cool.

Chesca, 30, plays early-1980s boogie and disco

I take inspiration for my outfits off the covers of the records I play. The Italo-disco star Spanga is a big influence. So are the members of Prince's girl band, Vanity 6, who wore amazing leotards. Leotards are perfect for performing - they make me feel powerful, like Superwoman.

Most of my clothes are vintage. I love orthodox Jewish hats and I change my hair all the time. Right now I have an undercut and long hair, with mismatched extensions. I love London style. You can wear what you want and no one cares.

Goldierocks 26, plays electro-house. She presents Boom TV on 4 Music and the Selector radio show for the British Council

DJing is an exchange of energy between you and the audience. Clothes can enhance that but they also need to be practical. My performances are very physical - I climb on to the speakers and crowd surf - so I have to consider that when I'm getting ready. You don't want to end the set with one shoe on and a ripped dress.

Girl DJs need something to set them apart. My hair is long down to my waist - it's my trademark. A typical outfit is biker boots from Urban Outfitters, my bespoke hoodie that Puma made for me with Goldierocks on the back, Yves Saint Laurent cocktail rings, a sequin dress from French Connection and my personalised gold headphones from Audio Chi.

Right now I'm into wearing feathers because I like the texture and movement. I have a black feather cape from Topshop Unique, which is perfect because it's short enough for me to be able to move my arms. But I love a little black dress, too.

Every job is different. This summer I played on Giorgio Armani's yacht in Monaco. I wore a Moschino dress. At the other end of the scale is my radio show for the British Council. The great thing about radio is you can roll in with knotty hair and a weird-smelling boyfriend jumper and no one will ever know.

The Broken Hearts aka Nisha and Amber, both 25, play party tunes from the 1920s to the present day

Our act is as much about the way we look as the music we play. We met while working at vintage shop, Beyond Retro, in Brick Lane, east London.

Our playsuits are from a line we designed with the London boutique Beyond the Valley and our tights are a collaboration with the hosiery designers Bebaroque. Not only are their designs beautiful, but they are two best friends and work together, like us.

Terry de Havilland made us some bespoke shoes with Broken Hearts on the soles in crystals, but today we are wearing Vivienne Westwood for Melissa heeled jelly shoes.

Our newest discoveries are Paperself fake eyelashes. They are laser-cut into patterns and look great on stage with bright Barry M lipstick. We get our Louise Brooks bobs cut in Nina's Hair Parlour in Alfie's Antique Market, London, which specialises in retro hairstyles.

Most of our bookings are for fashion parties. We have played for Vivienne Westwood, Selfridges and Turkish Vogue. Our best gig was on the roof of the Ritz in Moscow on Christmas Day. We took our boyfriends to that one.

DJ Kayper, 24, plays hip-hop. She hosts a show on BBC Asian Network every Wednesday

People always say I need a gimmick - like I should wear a catsuit or something - but I know I don't need to. I tell them to watch my videos on YouTube and they'll see that I can really DJ.

When I started, the big female DJs like Storm and Chemistry didn't wear sexy dresses; they just had skills. Fans travel across the country to see me scratch, but they wouldn't bother if I was just a party girl playing my iPod.

I do like clothes, but they aren't my priority. I wear a lot of All Saints and Rick Owens.

I didn't have time to think about fashion growing up. I was too busy scratching or obsessing over the DJ World Championships. I pay attention to my hands, though, as they get photographed a lot and people watch them in clubs, so I wear big colourful rings and keep my nails really long.